Brandon Moreno facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brandon Moreno |
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Moreno in 2021
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| Born | Brandon Moreno Carrillo December 7, 1993 Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico |
| Other names | The Assassin Baby |
| Residence | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
| Division | Flyweight (2014–present) Bantamweight (2011–2014) |
| Reach | 70 in (178 cm) |
| Fighting out of | Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico |
| Team | Entram Gym (2006–2022) Bang Muay Thai Team Elevation Glory MMA & Fitness (2022) Fortis MMA (2022–present) |
| Rank | Black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Raúl Arvizu |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 33 |
| Wins | 23 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 11 |
| By decision | 7 |
| Losses | 8 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Draws | 2 |
Brandon Moreno Carrillo, born on December 7, 1993, is a professional mixed martial artist from Mexico. He is famous for competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Brandon has been the UFC Flyweight Champion two times! He was also the very first Mexican fighter to win a UFC championship. Before joining the UFC, he was also a champion in the Legacy Fighting Alliance. As of early 2024, he was ranked #2 in the UFC flyweight division.
Contents
Brandon Moreno's MMA Journey
Early Life and Training
Brandon Moreno grew up loving boxing. He didn't know much about other combat sports at first. Later, he became interested in capoeira, a Brazilian martial art. He couldn't find a capoeira school in his hometown. While looking, he found a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym. There, he started training in kickboxing and jiu-jitsu.
Starting His Professional Career
Moreno began his professional MMA career in Mexico in April 2011. This was at an event called Ultimate Warrior Challenge Mexico. Over the next two years, he had a record of 6 wins and 3 losses.
In 2014, Moreno started fighting for the World Fighting Federation. He won all five of his fights there. He even won the Flyweight championship. This success helped him get chosen for The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions. This was a special TV show where fighters competed to join the UFC.
The Ultimate Fighter Show
In July 2016, it was announced that Brandon Moreno would be on The Ultimate Fighter. He joined Team Benavidez. In his first fight on the show, he faced Alexandre Pantoja. Moreno lost this fight by submission.
Joining the Ultimate Fighting Championship
Moreno made his UFC debut while The Ultimate Fighter was still on TV. This was unusual! He fought Louis Smolka on October 1, 2016. Moreno won the fight by submission in the first round. This win also earned him a "Performance of the Night" bonus award.
In his second UFC fight, Moreno faced Ryan Benoit on December 3, 2016. He won this fight by a split decision. Most sports reporters agreed that Moreno won the fight.
Moreno then fought Dustin Ortiz on April 22, 2017. He won by submission in the second round. He also received another "Performance of the Night" bonus.
Moreno's next fight was against Sergio Pettis on August 5, 2017. He lost this fight by a unanimous decision. After the fight, a test showed a substance called clenbuterol in his system. However, the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) found that it was likely from contaminated meat he ate in Mexico. So, Moreno was not punished.
Moreno was supposed to fight Ray Borg in April 2018. But the fight was canceled because Borg was hurt by glass from a bus window. The fight was rescheduled for May 2018. However, Borg had to withdraw again to care for his child. Alexandre Pantoja stepped in to fight Moreno instead. Moreno lost this fight by unanimous decision. In 2019, Moreno shared that he had been released from the UFC in late 2018.
Becoming a Champion Again
After leaving the UFC, Moreno signed with the Legacy Fighting Alliance. He fought for their Flyweight Championship on June 7, 2019. He won the fight by technical knockout in the fourth round. This made him the LFA Flyweight Champion!
Returning to the UFC
Moreno returned to the UFC on September 21, 2019. He fought Askar Askarov. The fight was very close and ended in a split draw. Many media outlets thought Moreno won the fight.
Moreno then faced Kai Kara-France on December 14, 2019. He won this fight by unanimous decision.
He continued his winning streak against Jussier Formiga on March 14, 2020. Moreno won by unanimous decision again.
In November 2020, Moreno was set to fight Alex Perez. But plans changed, and he ended up fighting Brandon Royval instead. Moreno won this fight by technical knockout in the first round.
Winning the UFC Flyweight Championship
Just three weeks after his last fight, Moreno got a chance to fight for the UFC Flyweight Championship. This was against Deiveson Figueiredo on December 12, 2020. It was a very exciting fight that lasted all five rounds. The fight was declared a majority draw. Both fighters earned the "Fight of the Night" award.
Moreno had a rematch with Figueiredo for the UFC Flyweight Championship on June 12, 2021. Moreno performed very well, controlling the fight with strikes and grappling. He won by submission in the third round. This made him the first Mexican UFC champion! He also earned a "Performance of the Night" award.
The two fighters met for a third time for the UFC Flyweight Championship on January 22, 2022. Moreno lost the fight and the title by unanimous decision. This fight also earned them a "Fight of the Night" award.
Moreno then faced Kai Kara-France again for the interim UFC Flyweight Championship on July 30, 2022. He won the fight by TKO in the third round. This win also earned him his third "Fight of the Night" award.
A fourth fight between Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo happened on January 21, 2023. This was for the undisputed UFC Flyweight Championship. It was the first time in UFC history that two fighters fought each other four times! Moreno won the fight by technical knockout. The doctor stopped the fight before the fourth round because Figueiredo's eye was too swollen.
Moreno faced Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch on July 8, 2023. Moreno lost the fight and the title by split decision. This fight also earned him a "Fight of the Night" award.
After Being Champion
Moreno was scheduled to fight Amir Albazi on February 24, 2024. However, Albazi got a neck injury and was replaced by Brandon Royval. Moreno lost this close fight by split decision.
The fight between Moreno and Amir Albazi was rescheduled for November 2, 2024. Moreno won this fight by unanimous decision.
Moreno faced Steve Erceg on March 29, 2025, in Mexico City. He won the fight by unanimous decision.
Submission Grappling Career
Moreno also competed in a special grappling tournament called Combat Jiu-Jitsu Fight Night. This was on February 22, 2019. In the first round, he won by submission. He then won his semi-final match. In the finals, he faced Richard Alarcon. Moreno lost this final match in overtime.
Personal Life
Brandon Moreno is a big fan of Funko Pop figures. He also loves collecting Lego sets. He is married and has three daughters.
Moreno also hosts a podcast in Spanish called Entre Asaltos. It's all about MMA.
Achievements and Awards
Mixed Martial Arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- UFC Flyweight Championship (Two times)
- He was the first Mexican champion in UFC history.
- Interim UFC Flyweight Championship (One time)
- Fight of the Night (Four times)
- Performance of the Night (Three times)
- He has some of the most finishes and total fight time in UFC Flyweight history.
- UFC Flyweight Championship (Two times)
- World Fighting Federation
- WFF Flyweight Champion (One time)
- Legacy Fighting Alliance
- LFA Flyweight Championship (One time)
- Other Awards
- In 2021, he won "Breakthrough Fighter of the Year" and "Fight of the Year" from the World MMA Awards.
- He also won the "Fighting Spirit of the Year" award for his amazing journey. He was cut from the UFC, fought his way back, and became the first Mexican UFC champion.
Submission Grappling
- EBI Combat Jiu-Jitsu
- He placed 2nd in the Combat Jiu-Jitsu Fight Night 1 bantamweight tournament.
Images for kids
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Moreno in 2021
See also
In Spanish: Brandon Moreno para niños
